Apparatus for producing prefabricated building walls



Jan. 27, 1953 J, KANTZLER 2,626,643

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREFABRICATED BUILDING WALLS Filed June 21, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor JUHNJ- KANTZLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. J. KANTZLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREFABRICATED BUILDING WALLS In'uuntor JOHN J- KANTZLER Jan. 27, 1953 Filed June 21, 1950 A lturmey J. J. KANTZLER Jan. 27, 1953 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREFABRICATEID BUILDING WALLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 1950 INVENTOR Jan. 27 1953 J, J, KANTZLER 2,626,643

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FREFABRICATED BUILDING WALLS mm J, KANTZLER A Hum? Jan. 27, 1953 J. J. KANTZLER APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREFABRICATED BQILDING WALLS Filed June 21, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOHN). KANTZLER Patented Jan. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PREPARE!- CATED BUILDING WALLS 5 Claims.

h s vention, relates to a novel apparatus or machine whereby two side walls orpanels of a wooden buildingsuch as a dwelling may be com-. pletely fabricated simultaneously upon the apparatus and in a horizontal position and thereafter delivered from the apparatus in a vertical or upright position ready for use.

More; particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus whereby the studs and top and bottom rails of a wall or building panel may be quickly and accurately assembled and clamped together and while thus held a sheathing or siding may be applied thereto and the rails and studs secured to one another and to the siding; to provide a completely prefabricated building wall or panel ready for erection as apart of a, building.v

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein window and door frames may be positioned in the wall or panel during its assembly and which apparatus is provided with saw guide means for trimming and bevelling the edges of the sheathing or siding of the panel to correct size and shape.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the, studs will be accurately located on conventional sixteen inch centers without requiring measuring and, marking of the top and bottom rails or plates for correctly locating the studs.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having novel means for effectively clamping the frame, composed of the studs and top and bottom plates in the machine and which is likewise provided with novel means for moving the wall or panel supporting template from a horizontal to an upright position to facilitate the detachment of the wall or panel from the machine in an upright position.

Various other objects and advantages of; the invention will hereafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the machine or apparatus with the template sections thereof in horizontal positions preparatory to prefabricating a wall thereon;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus looking from right to left of Figure 1 along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view on an en larged scale of the apparatus taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of l? 2;

Fi ure a. an en ged fragmentary cross sec- 'tional view through one section or template of the apparatus, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4- 5 of Figure 2 and showing a prefabricated wall assembled thereon;

Figure 5. is a horizontal sectional view, on a re.- duced scale taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 2 and illustrating the supporting framework of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of a portion of one template or section of the apparatus, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 1 and on an enlarged scale;

Figure '7 is a top plan view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 99 of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indi-v cated by the line l0 lfl of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectiona1 View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line I l-.- of Figure 12;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan viewof one section of the apparatus, partly broken away,

showing a prefabricated wall assembled thereon;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale illustrating an end of one of the stud locators, and

Figure 14 is an edge elevational view, partly in section, showing a prefabricated wall after as-. sembly on and removal from the apparatus.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the wall or panel forming apparatus in its entirety and comprising the invention is desige. nated generally [5 and includes a supporting frame structure, designated generally IB and cor--.

responding laterally spaced, panel assembly sec-:

tions or templates, designated generally I! and The supporting structure l5 includes a pair of elognated, rectangular base members l9 which are preferably formed of angle iron and disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ap-:- paratus l5 and parallel to one another. The base members H! are connected adjacent their ends by a pair of longitudinally extending braces 20 hic t nd th ebe een and which are 5 u d at their n o brack ts 2 which are uitab y. f st ed, t and pro ect from the i n r sides of the base members IS. The base members [9 are also connected by a diagonal brace 22 which is secured at its ends to two of the diagonally disposed brackets 2|, as best seen in Figure 5. The base members 19 are provided on their remote sides and adjacent their ends with outwardly projecting apertured ears 23 for receiving suitable fastenings 24, as best seen in Figure 3, for anchoring the supporting structure IE to the surface 25 of a foundation.

Each base member l9 includes a pair of intermediate cross braces 25 and a diagonal brace 21 which is disposed between the cross braces 26, said braces 26 and 2'! preferably being formed of angle iron. Each base member I9 also includes a pair of cross braces 28, one of which is disposed adjacent each end thereof, said cross braces 28, preferably being formed of lengths of I-beam, as best illustrated in Figur 3. The braces 26, 2'! and 28 may be suitably secured to the rectangular frame 39 of the base members 19, as by welding. As best seen in Figure 3, an upright brace or standard 29 is secured to and rises from each end brace 28. The upright braces 29 are likewise preferably formed of lengths of I-beam. A pair of diagonal supporting posts 3|, each formed of channel iron, is secured to and rises from each end of each of the rectangular frames 30, said posts 3| extending upwardly and inwardly with respect to the base members l9. Intermediate portions of the two posts 3| constituting each pair of posts are disposed to straddle the adjacent upright brace 29 and are suitably secured thereto. Each post 3| is also provided with a diagonal brace 29a which rises from the brace 28.

As best illustrated in Figure 8, each of the posts 3| has a bearing 32 secured on its upper end and a pin or shaft 33 extends between and is journalled in the bearings 32 of the posts of each pair. Each pin 33 extends through and is secured to the web portion of an I-beam 34, intermediate of its ends, and the longitudinally aligned I-beams 34 are secured at their ends to the web portions of a pair of longitudinally extending larger I-beams 35, as by flange brackets 36 and fastenings 31, as seen in Figure 4. The I-beams constituting each pair provide the support for either the template [1 or template I8. The I-beams 35, as best illustrated in Figure 2, extend from end-to-end of the templates l1 and [9.

Beyond corresponding ends the templates I1 and IS an upright post 38 is disposed, one of the posts 38 being arranged adjacent the outer edge of each template or form section I! and I8. A diagonal post or brace 39 extends downwardly and inwardly from the upper end of each post 38 and said posts and braces 38 and 39 being anchored at their lower ends in the foundation 25. Each post 38 is provided adjacent its upper end with a bearing 40 for journalling a shaft 4| having a' crank 42 at one of its ends and a sprocket wheel 43, fixed to its opposite end. Each brace 39 has a bearing 44 fixed thereto in which is journalled one end of a short shaft 45 to which is fixed a sprocket wheel 46. An endless chain 41 is trained over the complementary sprocket Wheels 43 and 46 for driving the'shaft 45 from the shaft 4l when the crank 42 is manually turned. A tubular shaft 48 has one end thereof fixed on the opposite end of each shaft 45, said tubular shafts 48 extending longitudinally of the apparatus I5 from the shafts 45. Each tubular shaft 48 is formed of sections, the adjacent ends of which are connected by a short shaft 49 which is disposed therein and secured thereto and to which is secured a bevelled gear 50. Another short shaft 43 is fixed in and projects from the opposite end of each tubular shaft 48 and has a bevelled ear 56 fixed thereto. As best illustrated in Figure 9, each shaft 49 is journalled in one leg of an angular bracket 5| the other leg of which is secured by fastenings 52 to a pair of bars 53 and likewise provides a journal for a portion of a shaft 54 to which is fixed a bevelled gear 55 which meshes with the adjacent bevelled gear 59. The bars 53 are suitably secured to the adjacent sides of two of the posts 3| forming a pair of said posts and a cross bar 56 is secured to the opposite ends of the bars 53 by additional fastenings 52 and provides a journal for another portion of the shaft 54. A worm 51 is fixed to each shaft 54 between the bracket 5| and bar 56 and is disposed to mesh with a worm wheel segment 58. Each worm wheel segment 58 is secured to the underside of one of the transverse I-beams 34 and extends longitudinally thereof. Accordingly, when either crank 42 is revolved it will revolve its associated shaft 45 by the sprocket wheel and chain connection 43, 46, 41 to rotate the shaft 48, 49 and the two bevelled gears 59 4 which are fixed thereto to thereby turn the two worms 5! which are located beneath one of the form sections or templates I! or [8 to thereby rock the two worm wheel sections 58 in unison to swing the two transverse I-beams 34 and the two longitudinal I-beams 35, which are connected to said worm wheel segments in avertical plane transversely of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus I 5 and on a horizontal axis between a horizontal plane of the parts as illustrated at the left of Figure 3 and a vertical position of the parts as illustrated at the right of Figure 3.

Each template or Wall form I! and I8 is identical in construction and only one of said forms or templates will therefore be described in detail. Each form or template is supported on a pair of the longitudinal I-beams 35 and includes a number, preferably five clamping units including four clamping units, designated generally 59 which are identical and an intermediate clamping unit 59a of a slightly modified construction. Each clamping unit 59 and 59a includes two elongated I-beams 60 which are supported transversely on and secured to the I-beams 35. The outer ends of all of the I-beams 60 are connected by an angle bar 6| which extends from end-to-end of the templates I! or l8, as seen in Figures land 4, and which is secured by fastenings 62 to each I- beam 66. An angle bracket 63 is secured by fastenings 64 to the I-beams 69 of each clamping unit 59 and 59a, adjacent the outer ends of said I-beams 66, said angle members 63 forming stationary clamp elements. units 59 also includes two shorter I-beams 65 which are disposed between and equally spaced from the I-beams 69 and two additionalI-beams 65 which are spaced outwardly from the I-beams 69 of each clamping unit 59. The I-beams 69 and 65 are spaced sixteen inches apart from center to center thereof and the adjacent ,I- beams 65 of the adjacent units 59 and 59a are likewise spaced thesame distance apart. A movable clampin element 66 formed of angle iron constitutes a part of each clamping unit 59 and 59a and is slidably supported on the I-beams 69 in opposed relationship to the stationary clamping elements 63 and adjacent the inner side of e temp ate or form IT or 18. The clamping Each of the clamping elements 63 and 66 are standing flanges in adjacently disposed relationship to one another and each clamping element 66, intermediate of its ends, is provided with a bearing 61 for journalling the unthreaded, shank end of a feed screw 66. Each feed screw 68 is rotatably and non-slidably connected to its associated clamping element 66 by a hand wheel 69 which is detachably connected to the outer end thereof and which bears against the outer side of the bearing 61 and a collar which is detachably connected to the feed screw 68 and bears against the inner side of the clamping element 66. Each stationary clamping element 63 has a block H secured to its inner side and which inner side and block are provided with registering threaded openings to threadedly receive a threaded. terminal portion 68' of the feed screw 68. so that when the hand wheel 69 is rotated. in one direction the movable clamping element 66 will be displaced toward the stationary clamping element 63 or when the hand wheel 69 is revolved in the opposite direction, said movable clamping element 66 will be displaced away from its complementary stationary clamping element' 63., The clamping sections 59 differ from the clamp-- ing section 59a only in that the intermediate clamping section 59a of each template I! or [8 is made longer and is provided with one additional transverse I-beam 65 which is disposed between the other two intermediate I-beams 65 and the feed screw 68 of the intermediate clampingv unit 59a is disposed directly over the intermediate I-beam 65, as best illustrated in Figure 1.

As best seen in Figures 3, 4 and '7, each clamping unit 56 and 59a also includes. an angle member i2 which is connected by hinges 13 to the opposite, inner ends of the two long I-beams 60,. said angle members 12 extend longitudinally of the templates and are normally disposed with one flange in an upright position, as seen in Figure 4 and the other flange extending inwardly from the hinges 13. A turn button 14 is swivelly mounted by a headed pin 75 on each I-beam 66 to engage the inwardly extending flange of the associated angle member 12 for latching said angle member in its position of Figure 4. Obviously, the turn buttons M may be swung through arcs of 90 for disengagin the angle members 12 so that said angle members may be swung clockwise as seen in Figure 4 on the hinges 13, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

Each of the I-beams 66 and 65, except the intermediate I-beam 65 of each intermediate clamping unit 59a has a locator bar l6 resting thereon and extending from adjacent the stationary clamping element 63 toward the movable clamping element 65 and which terminates in spaced relationship to said movable clamping element 66, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. A pair of clips 11', as best illustrated in Figure 13 is secured to each locator bar 16 adjacent each endthereof, each clip "having an outwardly offset lower portion"; which is secured by fastenings 19 to a side wall of its 10-- cator bar 16 and which terminates at its bottom edge in an inturned flange 66 which is spaced from the bottom surface of the bar 76. The pair of clips IT at each end of the bars 16 are disposed, in opposed relationship'to one another so that the flanges 66 thereof extend inwardly and toward one another and are adapted to engage under the upper flange of the I-beams66 or 65 disposed with their lip-- 1 terminals 62. The spring jaws. 8| are yieldable away from one another, for a purpose which will hereinafter, become apparent. A spring 83,, as seen. Figure 4, is connected to the fastening T9 of one of the clips I! which is located adjacent the movable clamping element, 66 of each locator unit, 16, T! and each spring 83 is provided with a downturned downwardly biased. free end which extends through an opening 84 of the. top

flange. of. the I-beam 66; or 65 on which. thev locator unit rests for retaining the locator unit against sliding movement longitudinally of the I-beam.

The upright flange of the angle member 12 of the'end clamping, unit. 59., which is disposed adjacent; the post. 6.6. has. a. socket 65 fixed to. itsouter side and which opens upwardly, and a socket 86 is fixed to the. horizontal, inwardly extending flange of the angle. member 6|v and is disposed in. transverse alignment with, the. socket 85. A sawguide, 8'! which is formed of angle iron includes. an upright, outer flange and a horizontal inwardly extending flange, said horizontal flange being provided adjacent. each end thereof with a depending pin 68. The pins 88 are spaced a distance. corresponding to the. spacing between the centers of the sockets and 66 and are received therein for supporting the saw guide 81 above the template H or l8 and adjacent an end thereof, as: best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. 7

Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 10, each of the cross braces 26 has a lug 89 fixed thereto to which one end of a supporting rod or rigid link 90 is pivotally connected. The opposite end of each rod 60 is detachabl'y connected by a latch pin or plunger iii to an I-beam 6!], which is disposed directly thereabove and at the inner end of said I-beam which is cut away or bevelled, as seen at 92, the latch pin or plunger 9| engaging detachably in an opening 93 of the I-bear'n; Each rod 96 is provided with a bifurcated or slotted head 94. at each of its ends, the slots of which receive the brackets 89 and the flanges o-fthe I-ebeams 66; As best seen in Figure 10, the upper head. 96 of each rod 66 is provided with a laterally opening threaded socket 95 for receiving an externally threaded end of a sleeve v66 which projects laterally therefrom and has a cap 91 threaded connected to its opposite, outer end and which combine with the bed of the socket and, sleeve to form a cylinder in which the latch pin 91' is reciprocally mounted. One end of the latch pin 6! extends loosely through a lateral opening 98 in the head 94; which intersects the slot. of said head in which the web. of the I-beam 66 is received so that the I-beam opening 93 may be disposed in alignment with the opening 96 to receive the latch plunger 9!. The latch plunger 9! is. rovided with a collar or head 69 disposed intermediate of its ends and which is reciprocally disposed in the sleeve 96'and forms an abutment for one end of an expansion spring I66, the opposite end of which seats against the cap 91 for urging the plunger 9! through the opening 98. The cap Bl is provided with a central opening I!!! forming a guide through which the plunger 91 reciprocally extends and one end of a flexible member B62 is attached to the end of the plunger 6| which projects outwardly from the cap 91 and extends therefrom toward the end of the template or form II or I8, adjacent to which the rod 90 is disposed, as best seen in Figure 1.

As seen in Figure 11, the stationary clamping elements 63 are preferably provided with notches I03 which align with the I-beams B and 65 and, if desired, the movable clamping elements 66 may be similarly notched.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the cranks 42 may be revolved for turning the shafts 48 to thereby revolve the worms to swing the templates or forms I! and I8 to hori zontal positions, after which the supporting rods 90 may be swung to upright positions and the latch pins 9| engage in the openings 93, as illustrated in Figure 10, to thereby latch the forms or templates I1 and I8 in horizontal positions. The hand wheels 69 may then be revolved for displacing the movable clamping elements 66 away from the stationary clamping elements 63, after which a stud I04, preferably formed of 2 x4 material is positioned on each locator bar I6 and gripped between the clip jaws 8| thereof. A single bottom plate or rail I05 is then positioned between corresponding ends of the studs I04 and the movable clamping elements 66 of the form or template. Two top plates or rails I05, which may likewise be formed of 2x4 inch material are then positioned between the opposite ends of the studs I04 and the stationary clamping elements 63 which are disposed in longitudinal alignment. The hand wheels 69 are then revolved in a direction for causing the movable clamping elements 66 to be displaced toward the stationary clamping elements 63 for clamping the studs I04 between the top plates I06 and the bottom plate I05 and for clamping said plates against the ends of the studs. The plates I05 and I06 may then be suitably secured to the ends of the studs in any suitable manner, not shown, as by means of driven fastenings. It will thus be seen that a framework for a wall or panel may be thus assembled and connected on each of the forms or templates I1 and I8 and with the studs thereof properly spaced relatively to one another and accurately held positioned while the studs are secured to the top and bottom plates. This work may be performed by the operators standing either between the templates I1 and I8 or on the outer sides thereof and, if desired, suitable stands or tables may be provided between the templates and therebelow for the convenience of the operators. At this time window and door frames may be inserted in the frames formed by the studs I04 and the plates I05 and I06 and where necessary, certain of the studs I04 may be cut off, as seen in Figure 12, to accommodate the door or window frame I01. Ordinarily the frame I0! is positioned over the intermediate clamping unit 59a and where a stud is omitted from the intermediate, extra I-beam 65 which is disposed directly beneath the feed screw 68 and, if desired, short lengths of studs, as indicated in dotted lines at I04a may be wedged between the ends of the frame I01 and the plates I05 and I05 and secured thereto.

After the frame I01 are in place a sidin or sheathing I 08 is applied to the upper side of each framework composed of the studs I 04 and the rails I05 and I0 6 which are connected thereto, and the siding is secured to said studs and plates by suitable fastenings. Openings may be cut in the siding I08 to accommodate the frames ID! by the use of a conventional manually supported power driven rotary saw, such as a Skilsaw. After the siding or sheathing I08 is applied and secured to the studs and plates, the saw guide 81 is applied to each template I! or I8 by engaging its pin 88 in the sockets and 85 and the guide 81 is then utilized for guiding the saw in cutting off the end of the sheathing I08, located at the adjacent end of the template I! or I8 and which cutting operation may be either a straight out or a bevelled cut as seen at I09 in Figure 14. In applying the sheathing or siding I08, the other end thereof is properly positioned with respect to the other end of the frame, formed by the studs and plates, so that one end only of the sheathin ordinarily needs to be cut off and, likewise, one longitudinal edge of the sheathing I08 is preferably correctly positioned relatively to the top plates I06 before the sheathing is secured to the plates and studs. Thereafter, the saw may be utilized for cutting off the other longitudinal edge of the sheathing IE8 at the proper distance beyond the bottom plate I05, utilizing the upright flanges of the longitudinal angle members I2 as a guide for this operation and after the saw guide 8! has been removed. However, if desired, the other longitudinal edge of the sheathing or sidin may also be cut off, utilizing the clamping elements 63 or the angle members BI as a saw guide and if desired, sockets may also be provided adjacent the opposite end of each template I I or I8 for mounting the saw guide 81 for cutting off the opposite end of the siding I08, particularly when a bevelled edge is required at each end.

After the siding has been nailed or otherwise secured in place on the studs and plates and the edges thereof have been trimmed, as previously described, the prefabrication of the wall or panel is completed and one of the operators then pulls on each of the flexible members I02 to release the latch pins 9I from the I-beams 50, after which by turning the cranks 42 the worms 5'! may be revolved in proper directions for causing the worm wheel segments 5-8 to turn, one in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 4 or at the lefthand side of Figure 3 and the other in the opposite direction, so that the templates I'! and I8 will swing from horizontal positions, as seen at the left of Figure 3 to an upright position as seen at the right of Figure 3, as previously described. The locator bars l6 are prevented from dropping when thus disposed in vertical positions by engagement of the springs 83 in the openings 85. By rotating the hand wheels 09, the movable clamping elements 66 may be displaced away from the stationary clamping elements 63 and the turn buttons 14 may be swung to released positions so that the angle members 12 may swing downwardly on their hinges 13 to enable the prefabricated Wall I I0, as best illustrated in Figure 14, to be more readily displaced laterally out of engagement with the template I! or I8 and while in an upright position, so that the wall Iliimay then be conveniently moved to a position for storage, to a position for transportation or to a position n which it is to be employed as a part of a buildmg. Thereafter, the cranks 42 may be turned in the opposite direction to return the templates I'I and I8 to horizontal positions, after which the supporting rods 90 are re-latched to the I-beams 80 and the angle members I2 returned to their normal positions of Figure 4 and latched therein by the turn buttons I4, preparatory to constructing another prefabricated wall or panel on each of the templates or forms I! and I8.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the inven- 9 tion as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for assembling a prefabricated building wall or panel comprising an elongated base, longitudinally spaced pairs of supporting standards secured to and rising from said base and disposed in longitudinal alignment, a cross beam extending transversely between the upper ends of each pair of standards, means extending between the upper ends of the standards of each pair and transversely through said cross beams for pivotally supporting the cross beams on the upper ends of the standards, longitudinal beams secured to the ends of said cross beams, a plurality of transverse beams supported on and secured to said longitudinal beams transversely thereof and disposed in equally spaced relationshi to one another, longitudinally of the apparatus, a stationary clamping element secured to said transverse beams adjacent to corresponding ends thereof and extending longitudinally of the apparatus, a movable clamping element supported on the transverse beams adjacent their opposite ends and parallel to the stationary clamping element, said clamping elements having adjacently disposed clamping surfaces rising from the transverse beams, feed screw means J'ournalled in one of the clamping elements and threadedly engaging the other clamping element and operable for moving the movable clamping element toward and away from the stationary clamping element, locator means connected to and rising from the transverse beams and adapted to support a stud above and in alignment with each transverse beam and between the clamping elements, the ends of the studs being adapted to be spaced from said clamping elements to provide spaces adapted to accommodate top and bottom plates, said feed screw means being operable to displace the movable clamping element toward the stationary clamping element for clamping the studs and plates between said clamping elements while the studs and plates are secured together and while a siding member is disposed on and secured to the assembled studs and plates.

2. An apparatus for assembling a prefabricated building wall or panel comprising a horizontal base structure, standards rising from and secured to the base structure and disposed in longitudinal alignment, a template, means pivotally supporting the template on the upper ends of the standards and intermediate of the side edges of the template, said template being disposed above the standards and including a plurality of stationary transversely extending beams equally spaced relatively to one another, the spacing of said transverse beams corresponding to the spacing between the studs of a wall or panel to be prefabricated, a stationary clamping element extending longitudinally of the template and supported on and connected to said beams adjacent one side edge of the template, a movable clamping element slidably supported on said transverse beams adjacent their opposite ends and parallel to the stationary clamping element, manually actuated means for moving the movable clamping element toward and away from the stationary clamping element, said clamping elements having adjacently disposed upright clamping surfaces adapted to engage top and bottom plates of a wall or panel disposed on the template between said clamping elements, and transverse beams and supported thereon between the clamping elements and each adapted to detachably support a stud above and in alignment with the transverse beam to which said locator means is connected for positioning a plurality of said studs in predetermined spaced relationship to one another and between the top and bottom plates, said manually actuated means being operable to displace the movable clamping element toward the stationary clamping element for clamping the top and bottom plates between the clamping elements and the ends of the studs while the plates and studs are secured together and while a siding is secured to the upper surface of the wall or panel frame formed by the plates and studs.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, said standards locator means connected to and rising from the being inclined transversely of the longitudinal axis of the template whereby the lower ends of the standards are disposed beneath a side edge of the template when the latter is in a horizontal position, and said means for pivotally support ing the template on said standards having an axis disposed longitudinally of the template for rocking movement of the template in a vertical plane and about said axis whereby the template may be swung from a horizontal to a vertical position for unloading a prefabricated wall therefrom.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2, said locator means comprising locator bars disposed on said transverse beams and extending longitudinally thereof betwen the clamping elements, stud engaging clips fastened to each locator bar having portions engaging around portions of said transverse beams for retaining the locator bars thereon and including upwardly projecting resilient jaws between which the studs are releasably gripped and supported on the locator bars.

5. An apparatus as in claim 2, said locator means comprising locator bars disposed on said transverse beams and extending longitudinally thereof between tthe clamping elements, stud engaging clips fastened to each locator bar having portions engaging around portions of said transverse beams for retaining the locator bars thereon and including upwardly projecting resilient jaws between which the studs are releasably gripped and supported on the locator bars, one of the clips of each locator bar having a spring latch engaging the transverse beam on which said locator bar is supported and retaining the locator bar against sliding movement longitudinally of said transverse beam.

JOHN J. KANTZLEP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 128,064 Phillips June 18, 1822 515,986 Barnard Mar. 6, 1894 781,172 Anderson Jan. 31, 1905 929,045 Stewart July 27, 1909 1,122,570 Bell Dec. 29, 1914 1,618,341 Howland Feb. 22, 1927 1,766,230 Sea June 24, 1930 1,873,818 Burns Aug. 23, 1932 1,960,590 McKay May 29, 1934 2,322,368 Lacey June 22, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 407,641 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1934 

